Guitar game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A guitar game apparatus includes a neck portion, a printed circuit board, and five controlling buttons. The printed circuit board is mounted to the neck portion and includes five switches. The controlling buttons are electrically connected to the corresponding switches of the printed circuit board.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to game apparatuses, and particularly to a guitar game apparatus.

Currently, there are many kinds of guitar game apparatus that resemble guitars and have stored sound files that are transmitted by a microcontroller through a speaker to produce sounds that resemble those made by a guitar. The guitar game apparatuses basically work in conjugation with Sony's PS2, Microsoft's X-Box, or other game controlling apparatus. A traditional guitar game apparatus includes a head portion, a slim neck portion, and a body. Differences between the guitar game apparatus and a guitar are that the body of the guitar game apparatus needs not define sound hole and assembling strings, but sets a plurality of controlling buttons on the body. The guitar game apparatus produces sounds when the controlling buttons are pressed. However, the controlling buttons are set on the body, which is inconvenient when the players use two hands to play the guitar game apparatus.

What is needed is to provide a guitar game apparatus which is convenient to be operated for players and resembles a guitar.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An exemplary guitar game apparatus includes a neck portion, a printed circuit board, and five controlling buttons. The printed circuit board is mounted to the neck portion and includes five switches. The controlling buttons are electrically connected to the corresponding switches of the printed circuit board with corresponding ends.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a guitar game apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the guitar game apparatus includes a neck portion and five controlling buttons;

FIG. 2 is an exploded, isometric view of the neck portion and the controlling buttons of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of one of the controlling buttons of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is an assembled view of FIG. 2, but viewed from another aspect.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a guitar game apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a body 1, a neck portion 2, and five controlling buttons 3 mounted to the neck portion 2. In this embodiment, the guitar game apparatus is guitar-shaped.

The body 1 has a plurality of controlling buttons (not labeled) set thereon.

Referring also to FIGS. 2-4, the neck portion 2 includes a cover 20, and a base 22. The cover 20 defines five through holes 200 therein. The controlling buttons 3 are mounted to the cover 20 and extend out through the corresponding through holes 200. Each controlling button 3 has a plurality of fixing parts 30 extending from sides thereof, for engaging with edges of a corresponding through hole 200 to prevent the controlling button 3 from disengaging from the cover 20. A printed circuit board (PCB) 4 is mounted between the cover 20 and the base 22. The PCB 4 includes five switches 40. The controlling buttons 3 are electrically connected to the corresponding switches 40 via conducting resin. When the controlling buttons 3 are pressed, the corresponding switches 40 are triggered. The controlling buttons 3 are in line arranged on the neck portion 2. A distance between tops of the controlling buttons 3 and a surface of the neck portion 2 is about 4 mm, which fell in with ergonomic and increases visual comfort. The base 22 includes a plurality of shafts 220 extending therefrom to support the PCB 4, thus to increase a compressive property of the PCB 4 and prevent the PCB 4 from being destroyed when the controlling buttons are pressed.

The controlling buttons 3 accomplish different functions. In this embodiment, the controlling buttons 3 from top to bottom in turn act as the R2 button, the ◯ button, the Δ button, the X button, and the □ button of a PS handle. Moreover, the guitar game apparatus may act as a banjo guitar via the five controlling buttons 3.

In assembly, the controlling buttons 3 are positioned at the corresponding through holes 200. The PCB 4 is electrically connected to the controlling buttons 3 via conducting resin. The base 22 is attached to the cover 20 to enclose the PCB 4 and parts that is adjacent to the PCB 4, of the controlling buttons 3. The base 22 is assembled to the cover 20 through screws (not shown). Thus, the neck portion 2 is formed. Then, the neck portion 2 is assembled to the body 1.

The controlling buttons 3 are set on the neck portion, which is convenient for players to operate the controlling buttons 3 on the neck portion 2 with one hand, and operate the controlling buttons on the body 1 with the other hand. The guitar game apparatus resembles a guitar.

It is believed that the present invention and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the example hereinbefore described merely being a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the invention. 

1. A guitar game apparatus, comprising: a neck portion; a printed circuit board mounted to the neck portion, the printed circuit board comprising five switches; and five controlling buttons electrically connected to the corresponding switches of the printed circuit board.
 2. The guitar game apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the neck portion comprises a cover, and a base mounted to the cover, the cover defines five holes therein for ends opposite to the printed circuit board, of the corresponding controlling buttons, extending through.
 3. The guitar game apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the controlling buttons has a plurality of fixing parts extending from sides thereof, for engaging with edges of a corresponding through hole to prevent the controlling button from disengaging from the cover.
 4. The guitar game apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the base comprises a plurality of shafts extending therefrom to support the printed circuit board.
 5. The guitar game apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the five controlling buttons act as the R2 button, the ◯ button, the Δ button, the X button, and the □ button of a PS handle. 